Medium Dog Breeds

Not too big, not too small, medium dogs are just right for an owner who wants a dog with a little more substance without tipping the scales. Ranging from 20-60 lbs, these sturdy and reliable breeds like the Australian Shepherd, the French Bulldog and the American Pit Bull Terrier, are not going to fit in your purse, but you still might be able to pick them up. Many of the medium sized breeds are appealing to families who have smaller children, but don’t have the space for a larger dog.

Britain's Border Collie is often considered the finest sheepherding dog in the world, bred strictly for working ability rather than appearance. This is a medium-sized dog, with females usually averaging 35 to 45 pounds, males averaging 45 to 55 pounds.

The Boxer was developed in Germany as a medium-sized security dog. The breed combines the blood of a mastiff-type breed that was used for hunting, herding and protection with that of the Bulldog. The result is a smooth-coated, agile dog measuring up to 25 inches at the shoulder.

This medium-size dog is a sturdy and typical spaniel, bred to be a hunting dog with exceptional retrieving and flushing abilities. He is adept at both land and water retrieving, not shy to jump in the lake to pick up his prize.

The Breton peasant's hunting dog, known since the mid-19th century in the French province Brittany, this breed is thought to represent a cross between the English Setter and small French land spaniels. Square in outline, the Brittany is the smallest of the versatile gun dogs.

Originally called the Bull and Terrier, this British breed represents a cross between the Bulldog and the now extinct White English Terrier. Bull Terriers are friends to all, but because their first job was that of pit fighter, their feisty instincts die hard.

The Bulldog today is a softer personality than his intense ancestors, who guarded and controlled bulls, and fought in sporting arenas. Nowadays, Bulldogs would rather cozy up on a couch than bait bulls. The modern Bulldog is gentle, intelligent, affectionate, strong and determined.

The Canaan is indigenous to Israel, where it was first used for guarding and herding cattle and sheep. The Israelis have also used the Canaan Dog for guard duties, as mine detectors during war times, as messengers and as Red Cross helpers.

This is the Corgi that wags, not wiggles. The Cardigan Welsh Corgi is markedly different from the Pembroke: It is larger, longer bodied, has rounded ears, a naturally long tail and comes in more colors.

Several types of feral dogs with long, immense ears lived some 8,000 years ago in what is today the United States. The Basketmaker Dog, now extinct, was nearly a clone of the Dingo and was used by primitive Indians in the Southeast.

Once the world's rarest breed, the Chinese Shar-Pei has made a startling recovery in just about a dozen years. The prune-faced pups were on the brink of extinction in the early 1970s when a Hong Kong fancier appealed to Americans for help in saving the breed.

The sleek and swift Cirneco, resembling a Pharaoh Hound in miniature, has been maintained and bred on the island of Sicily for 3,000 years. In more ancient times, the breed was also known farther north on Corsica.

Happy but not yappy, the Cocker has won the hearts of millions of pet owners. The breed's ancestry is identical to that of the English Cocker, which was first imported to North America during the 1880s.

The "Lassie dog" has been described as a clever worker that responded to the shepherd's commands, herding sheep and driving them to market. Collies come in two distinct coat types: rough and smooth. The rough coat is abundant except on the head and legs.

The "Lassie dog" has been described as a clever worker that responded to the shepherd's commands, herding sheep and driving them to market. Collies come in two distinct coat types: rough and smooth. The rough coat is abundant except on the head and legs.

The first of the waterfowl retrieving breeds, the Curly-Coated Retriever is of British origin. Its likeness is depicted in sporting works of art dating back 300 years. At one time, the Curly Coat was the gamekeeper's favorite hunting dog.

The Dalmatian is famous for its spots, which gave rise to some of its nicknames, among them Plum Pudding Dog, Spotted Dick and Firehouse Dog. The latter nickname arose because its heritage as a carriage dog made it a natural choice as a firehouse mascot in the days of horse-drawn fire wagons.

This terrier with the topknot takes its unusual name from Dandie Dinmont, a character in Sir Walter Scott's novel 'Guy Mannering.' Dinmont was a farmer who kept six of the terriers, known for their boldness in going after otter and badger.

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